I have an older Sears (Amana) dryer that I would like to install. Of course, Sears no longer supplies the installation manual.

The wire/plug for the dryer has three wires that screw onto the dryer itself, the other end is a plug.

What kind of wire should I use to go from the panel to the appliance?

Should I supply 220 volts? Would I use a ganged pair of 30amp breakers?

Thank you!

a7ecorsair

06-18-2010 08:28 AM

The shape of the plug will give you a clue. Look and see if it says 30A somewhere on it. The plug design determines what it can be plugged into and the manufacture's plate on the dryer should agree.

nelsonC

06-18-2010 08:34 AM

the pigtail has three wires which are supposed to be screwed onto the machine, and the plug end has three prongs.

are one of these ground or are one of these neutral?

a7ecorsair

06-18-2010 09:08 AM

The plug, are there 2 prongs at a angle and one prong that is an "L"?
What is on the manufactures plate, does it say 120/240V?
NEC used to allow the ground to be the neutral for the 120 operation of the control but now the neutral and ground have to be separate and use a 4 prong plug.
If there are just three wires the two angled ones are 240 and the L is ground.

nelsonC

06-18-2010 09:10 AM

thanks. actually, I'm thinking now that I should just upgrade this to a 4-wire, since it seems as simple as disconnecting the ground strap from the dryer and grounding to the frame. so the middle terminal becomes neutral, the outer lugs are hot, and ground is grounded. I think I've got this straight...